>(VIRGINIA BEACH, VA) GenExchange - One of Two Major Independent Genealogy >Projects Left. > >(Virginia Beach, VA) With the recent purchase of Rootsweb.Com, Inc., by the >MyFamily.Com Division Ancestry.Com, the GenExchange >(http://www.genexchange.org) has become one of only two major independent >genealogy projects left on the World Wide Web, making it even more >important than ever for the GenExchange to maintain itís strong voice in >the genealogical community to help preserve our right to permanent free >access to genealogical information online. Along with the Church of Latter >Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org) website, the >GenExchange is now the only other major genealogy project not hosted by a >commercial entity. > >Since our inception in September 1996, the GenExchange has been a leader in >merging technology with genealogy; being the first genealogy web site to >utilize then emerging database technologies to present a whole new way of >locating and searching genealogical information. The fore-father of all >the existing genealogy portals that now emulate our databased genealogical >content methods, including the popular Ancestry.com web site, the >GenExchange has over 900 Project Members and Volunteers working tirelessly >to add an average of over 100,000 new records online each and every month. > >The GenExchange is now, and always will be a non-profit organization >dedicated to keeping genealogy free online and does not seek donations or >charge any access fee for the use of the project web site, our hosted >mailing lists, or any of the other genealogy resources hosted through the >GenExchange, and maintains a strong user privacy policy. The GenExchange >is working hard to lead the way toward non-commercialization of online >genealogy through data transcription projects, public outreach, and >education. > >The USGenExchange, the central GenExchange project dedicated to creating >indexed and searchable web sites for every state and county in the United >States, makes location and access to genealogical records easier than ever >before. Access over two million permanently archived records quickly by >visiting the USGenExchange now, and revisit often to find new records added >daily. In addition, the GenExchange is pleased to host dozens of mailing >lists, dedicated to Surname, topic, and geographic specific genealogy >subjects; as well as other diverse genealogy resources such as a Surname >Discussion Forum, helpful for locating others interested in locating >relatives; an online Soundex Conversion tool; a Military Records Collection >Project; the critically acclaimed New York Emigrant Savings Bank Project; >free genealogy charts and forms; and literally dozens of other genealogical >resources > >The GenExchange is growing larger and stronger every day and will continue >to assist online genealogists find their roots. The GenExchange does >however need your assistance in helping others. The GenExchange faces a >nearly insurmountable task of preserving genealogical records for permanent >free access, as numerous commercial organizations seek to capitalize on our >quest to discover who we are. Please consider joining the GenExchange by >adopting a State or county web site and help us permanently archive >genealogical records. > >Read more about the GenExchange Project by visiting >http://www.genexchange.org/volunteers.cfm. > >To view previous GenExchange Press Announcements please visit >http://www.genexchange.org/gesr/press.cfm Bright Star